Tag Archives: Ahmad

Syria’s rebellion has been derailed by ISIL and waning Western support, but rebels say they haven’t lost fight

Four years ago, tens of thousands of Syrians who took to the streets during the first days of rage against 40 years of authoritarian rule by the Assad family. The protests, demanding democratic reform, were peaceful, but the regime cracked down violently. Many anti-regime activists responded by taking up arms, and full-scale war soon erupted.

After the deaths of more than 220,000 people, the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remains unmoved, and the struggle for control of Syria has devolved into a multifaceted war with no clear endgame in sight.

Regime forces have only accelerated their use of internationally prohibited barrel bombs and other brutal weaponry against rebel fighters and civilians alike, according to human rights groups. And so far, Assad’s key allies have been steadfast. Russia’s support on the U.N. Security Council has been crucial, recently blocking a referral of Assad to the International Criminal Court for war crimes, and Iran has been a steady source of funds and fighters, sending Iranian militias — along with Lebanese Shia Hezbollah fighters — against the Syrian rebels, who are mostly Sunni.

The international community has all but abandoned the idea of peace talks after several summits in Geneva — involving rebel factions, the regime and both sides’ foreign benefactors — ended in failure last year. The leading Western-backed opposition faction, the Syrian National Coalition, insisted on Assad’s departure as a condition for any talks; Assad, of course, dismissed that notion out of hand.

~~GRAPHICS SOURCE~~

Google Images

~~GALLERY~~

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Absent a surge in Western support for the rebels, however, many analysts feel Syria is heading toward a situation in which Assad retains control of most of the important population centers, from Damascus in the south to Lattakia along the Mediterranean coast, while various armed groups, including ISIL, fight over the rest. In effect, Assad could turn into Syria’s “strongest warlord,” Lund said.

“I think the idea is that Syria will not be a united country for a very long time to come, if ever.”

That outcome is not what the 2011 revolutionaries had in mind. Ahmad, the former Revolutionary Command spokeswoman, said her side is trying to convince the world that the uprising against Assad is everyone’s war. ISIL, she noted, has ambitions of expanding beyond its current territory in Syria and Iraq.

“Syrians feel the world has abandoned them,” she said. “But maybe when you have nothing left to lose, you become more determined to fight to the end.”

Meanwhile, millions of refugees are burdening Syria’s neighbors, who fear their guests will become a permanent and destabilizing presence unless the war ends.

#TogetherAgainstAntisemitis ….

Seventh Year Blogging Anniversary … Wordpress

Sixth Year Blogging Anniversary … Wordpress

Fifth Year Blogging AnnIversary … WordPress

Fourth Year Blogging Anniversary … WordPress

Blogger Recognition … Kitty.SomeBlog

Treasure Trove Award … R. Goldstein

‘Bee Love Award” … from Kitty!

Vincent Ehindero Blogger Award … Kitty!

Prestigious Penable Award … Dear Kitty

Horty Rexach …. youtube Playlist!

Horty

I'm originally from Puerto Rico. I was born in Santurce and raised in Rio Piedras. I currently live in Florida - since 1999. I have a doctorate degree in Medicine; completed in 1976. My Internal Medicine specialty was completed in 1979. Worked for Puerto Rico's health system until 1985. At this time, I'm happily retired after working for the federal government for almost 28yrs. I also worked for the government of Puerto Rico from 1979 through 1985 .... for a total of almost 40 years as a physician. I want to offer any knowledge that I have to anyone "out there" who is interested. My views are liberal in almost every sense. My knowledge is "eclectic" - a bit of everything. Music and reading are my passion. Blogging has also become a very interesting endeavor. Metaphysical topics attract me. I'm interested in news - reporting human issues like injustice, discrimination and abuse - the "wrongly" affected. My intention is to bring this knowledge to an understandable level and to help anyone in need. I'm open to questions and will answer them to the best of my ability. Currently working on an enterprise whose main mission will be to bring peoples of all walks of life together. To be one .... since we ALL are ONE!! The future looks bright and promising!!!